A child who is disabled may depend
on your help for the rest of their lives. Social Security has
two programs that pay disability benefits to disabled children:
Social Security Disability Insurance and Supplemental Security
Income (SSI).

If you retire, become disabled, or
die, Social Security benefits may be paid to your children over
18 who have been disabled before the age of 22 and continue to
be disabled. Social Security benefits for disabled children may
continue as long as they are unable to work because of their
disability. (Remember, Social Security benefits to all other
children stop at age 18).

Social Security makes payment under
the SSI program to disabled children under 18 whose families
have little income and resources. SSI payments are based on need
rather than prior work and may be paid to children regardless
whether a parent is retired, disabled, or has died. These
benefits also continue as long as the child is disabled and has
little income or resources.

A child under 18 is considered
disabled if his or her physical or mental condition is so severe
that it results in marked and severe functional limitations. The
condition must last or be expected to last at least 12 months or
be expected to result in the child's death. And of course, the
child must not be working at a job that we consider to be
substantial work.

Under both Social Security and SSI,
children 18 or older are considered disabled if they meet the
adult definition of disability, i.e., their condition must be
severe enough to prevent them from doing any kind of work for
which they are suited.